Hafiz Naeem says 26th amendment, independent judiciary can’t coexist
Addresses Rawalpindi Bar, stresses need for internal democracy within political parties
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman meets Bangladeshi Ambassador Iqbal Hussain Khan
RAWALPINDI ( WEB NEWS )
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has said that the 26th constitutional amendment and an independent judiciary cannot coexist.
Addressing the General Body meeting of the Rawalpindi District Bar Association on Tuesday, Hafiz Naeem-ur=Rehman expressed disappointment over the lack of meaningful reforms following the lawyers’ movement for judicial restoration, stating that the judiciary did not improve as it should have. He emphasized that the rule of law must prevail in the country, and the election results should reflect the actual winners. “The manipulation surrounding Form-47 weakens the country,” he said.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman criticized mainstream political parties, saying they only turn to democratic values when they are out of power. He described them as dynastic monopolies and stressed the need for internal democracy within political parties. He also pointed out that student union elections have been suspended for over 40 years, arguing that this ban is in place to protect family-led political dominance. He noted that local government elections are delayed for similar reasons, out of fear that strengthening democracy at the grassroots level would disrupt existing power structures. He reminded the audience that the last local body elections in Punjab were held in 2015. In Karachi, he said, local polls were held only after four major protest campaigns, during which Jamaat-e-Islami secured significant victories, but the mayoral post was still awarded to the PPP.
Commenting on national security, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman opposed military operations, arguing that they lead to collective damage and deepen divisions between the army and the public. He praised the country’s united response to recent Indian aggression, saying, “The nation stood united when a strong response was given to India. But if we fight others’ wars as mercenaries, the nation will fall apart.” He reiterated Jamaat-e-Islami’s longstanding position that Kashmir cannot be liberated through negotiations, only through resistance. He said no talks with India are acceptable without the inclusion of Kashmir on the agenda.
The JI Emir said India had staged a false flag operation in Pahalgam to justify attack on civilians and mosques in Pakistan. He said that India’s declaration of war served to unify the Pakistani public. He reiterated his criticism of Pakistan’s involvement in the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, stating, “The war we’ve been fighting for the past 25 years was never ours. We acted on America’s instructions against our neighbor.”
On the domestic front, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman raised concerns about economic injustice, stating that the salaried class contributes over Rs 500 billion in taxes while the feudal elite pay less than Rs 5 billion. He called for an end to this disparity and demanded a reduction in electricity prices and the removal of all taxes included in power bills. He noted that Pakistan currently produces more electricity than needed and suggested setting up large data centers to utilize the surplus. He also called for the elimination of interest from the economy. “If we aim to abolish interest by 2027, we must reduce it by at least 5 percent this year,” he said, urging the government to provide relief in the upcoming budget amid rising inflation.
Regarding internal peace and federal unity, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stressed the need to resolve the issues of missing persons and address long-standing grievances in Balochistan. He called for restoration of peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and emphasized that it cannot be achieved without engaging the Afghan government. He said Afghan refugees should be repatriated with dignity and Kabul must ensure that Afghan soil is not used for anti-Pakistan activities. He welcomed the appointment of a new Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan as a positive development. He also called for a clearer demarcation of responsibilities between the military and civilian institutions.
Turning to the Palestinian issue, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman condemned Israeli aggression in Gaza and accused the United States of complicity in the ongoing genocide. “Trump doesn’t see the children being killed in Gaza. America’s hypocrisy is preventing a ceasefire,” he said. He criticized the inaction of Muslim rulers and urged Pakistan to take the lead in uniting Islamic countries. He said Israel should be given a deadline to stop the war and expressed confidence that such a move would force Israel to back down. He also called for a complete boycott of Israeli products and reiterated that the struggles of Kashmiris and Palestinians are interconnected.
He warned against accepting U.S. mediation on Kashmir and emphasized the right of Kashmiris to self-determination. “Seventeen resolutions have been passed in the United Nations. The entire nation must pressure the government to take practical steps toward the freedom of Kashmir,” he said.
He criticized India’s international narrative, stating that it has built its global image on lies while suppressing internal dissent. He said that Dalits, Sikhs, Christians, and Muslims are unsafe in India, and blamed Pakistan’s weak foreign policy for allowing India to carry out terrorist activities in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without facing consequences. He said it was time to expose India on the global stage. He also noted that in the recent conflict, only Israel stood by India, and both countries are driven by imperialist ambitions and involved in the genocide of Kashmiris and Palestinians. He maintained that their armed resistance is legitimate under international law.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman meets Bangladeshi Ambassador Iqbal Hussain Khan
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman met with Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Iqbal Hussain Khan.
Held at Bangladesh embassy, the meeting focused on bilateral relations, regional dynamics, and matters of mutual interest.
Talking on occasion, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman emphasized that both Pakistan and Bangladesh face similar challenges in the realms of defense and security. He called for stronger cooperation between the two countries, especially in sectors such as defense, education, trade, and technology. “Pakistan and Bangladesh have entered a new era of friendship,” he said, underscoring the importance of deepening people-to-people connections and fostering closer ties at the societal level.
He stressed that the people of both nations share historical and cultural bonds and cannot be separated by past divisions. “Strengthening mutual friendship will contribute to the progress of both countries,” he remarked.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also briefed the ambassador about various departments and institutions operated by Jamaat-e-Islami, highlighting the party’s social, educational, and welfare initiatives.